Theatre Work
Rich is an award-winning international theatre maker, writer, deviser, and movement director. Since 2000, his ambitious and visually arresting ensemble theatre works have been performed in over 25 countries, from Canada to New Zealand.
Throughout his career, Rich has collaborated with leading arts organisations, delivering masterclasses, creating original shows, and working with theatre companies to craft engaging visual theatre. He has created over 200 works for small and mid-scale tours, collaborating with renowned devising companies such as Hoipolloi, Les Enfants Terribles, and New International Encounter. For over 12 years, he served as Associate Director at Gecko, working on productions including The Overcoat, Missing, Institute and The Time of Your Life. As a director Rich has collaborated on the creation of over 35 five-star Edinburgh Fringe productions.
In the past decade, Rich has worked mostly with international ensembles to develop productions that blend local traditions with contemporary cultural themes.
He has a strong partnership with Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre, where he writes and directs mid-scale touring productions, teaches, and serves as a cultural ambassador.
Currently, Rich is touring METAMORPHOSIS (Which he adapted and directed) with the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre, with the tour beginning in Asia before expanding internationally.
A bit more history, incase you're interested...
Rich's early work primarily focused on touring original children's theatre across the UK, with regular venues including The Lyric Hammersmith, Battersea Arts Centre, and Cambridge Junction.
He served as Associate Director at Cambridge Junction for three years, where he ran young companies and developed mid-scale touring productions for young audiences. Rich continues to work with young people as a writer, director, and workshop facilitator, and he regularly leads physical theatre masterclasses for young companies and artists across Europe, China, America, and the UK.
In 2008, Rich began collaborating with physical theatre pioneers Gecko Theatre. As an Associate Director for Gecko. Over the span of more than 10 years, he toured internationally, performing in Europe, China, Malaysia, South Korea, Russia, and Mexico. This global experience has given Rich a unique perspective on storytelling and inspired him to explore universal, human themes in his work.
In 2016, Rich directed The Dreamer in Shanghai, a co-production, commissioned by the British Council. The physical theatre production toured across China and internationally. Rich is currently developing his fourth and fifth large-scale devised show in Shanghai and a new devised show in the UK for 2026.
Rich’s professional commissions span a wide range of genres, including straight text, drama school showcases, site-specific work, immersive theatre, puppetry, children's theatre, physical theatre, dance, interactive experiences, digital projects, festival performances, street theatre, musicals, circus, and film.The core values that guide Rich's theatre-making process are:
- Create work that inspires, excites, and challenges audiences to use their imagination.
- Make bold, brave decisions that push boundaries for both performers and audiences.
- Craft theatre for everyone, telling stories that resonate with people from all backgrounds.
These values also inform Rich's approach to his film projects. Coming from a working-class background, Rich has dedicated himself to making the arts accessible for all throughout his career.
Rich regularly runs masterclasses in physical theatre and storytelling. On occasion Rich directs productions for Drama Schools.
